Charge-firing pin.



J. N. SWANSON.

CHARGE FIRING PIN.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. I4. 1918.

1,290,680. Patented Jan. 7,1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

J. N. SWANSON.

CHARGE FIRKNG PIN.

APPLICATION FILED JAN-14.1918.

Patented Jan. T, 1919.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

avwwwtoz k ilx Qmvbvw/oo UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN N. SWANSON, OF HOUSTON, TEXAS.

GHABGE FIRING PIN.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN N. Swanson, a citizen of the United States, residin at Houston, in the county of Harris and tate of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Charge- Firing Pins; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in firing pins for charge laden bodies such as projectiles, aerial bombs and torpedoes; and the principal object is to provide a comparatively simple yet highly elficient arrangement of parts which may not easily be fired accidentally, yet will be very sensitive when the travel of the carrying body is checked.

With the foregoing general object in view, the invention resides in the novel features of construction and unique combinations of parts to be hereinafter fully described and claimed, the descriptive matter being supplemented by the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification and in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the invention applied;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section showing the normal positions of parts;

Fig. 3 is a similar view illustrating the relation of parts when the travel of the pro jectile or the like is checked;

Fi 4 is a view similar to Figs. 2 and 3 but illustrating the manner in which the firing pin is forced against the percussion ca a Fig. 5 is a vertical transverse section on the plane of the line 5-5 of Fig. 3; and.

Figs. 6 and 7 are transverse sections of Fig. 2 on the planes indicated by the lines 6-6 and 7-7 respectively.

In the drawings above briefly described,

the numeral 1 designates a preferably cylindrical casing which is shown in the resent embodiment of the invention as positioned within the charge carrying head 2 of a projectile 3, the rear end of said casing being threaded externally for mountin the same as shown at 4. The front end 0 the cylinder 1 is closed by a plate 5 havin a central socket 6 on its inner side, said soc et receiving the front end of a longitudinally disposed firing pin 7 which is pos1t1oned co- Speoification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 14, 1918. Serial No. 211,846.

Patented Jan. '7, 1919.

anially in the casing, the rear end of said pm being provided with a prong or the like 8 which is spaced forwardly from a percusslon cap 9 or other suitable charge firing device which is used to ignite the'priming charge 10, this charge being shown as carr1ed in a suitable casing'll held by a plug 12 within a ring 13 which is threaded into plugged with some soft or fusible material which will prevent powder entering the easing 1, yet will readily give way or burn when the charge 10 is fired.

An operating weight 16 is provided for the firing pin 7, said weight being slidable forwardly in respect to said pin as will be.

clear by comparing Figs. 2 and 3, and-it is intended that when the projectile strikes a body, the momentum of the weight 16 shall move the same forwardly along the pin to the position depicted in Fig. 3, thus compressing a coiled spring 17 which is interposed between said weight and the end plate 5 of the casing 1. Th1s spring then immediately exerts its tension to return the weight 16 rearwardly, but in the meantime this weight has been operatively connected to the firing pin by a clutch mechanism.

This mechanism includes a pair of dogs 18 preferably formed by bending the ends of a spring 19 as shown in Fig.6, said spring being suitably mounted on one end of the weight 16. The dogs 18 normally seat within a shallow groove or recess 20 formed around the pin 7 as shown in Fig. 2, but these dogs are moved bodily forward with the weight 16 and are adapted to snap into a second and deeper annular groove or recess 21 which is also formed in pin 7. The dogs then abut the shoulder 21 at one end of the recess 21 as shown in Fig. 3, so that the return movement of weight 16 will correspondingly move the firing pin to bring its prong 8 into contact with the cap 9.

For normally holding the pin 7 against movement and for accelerating the speed of this pin when the tension of spring 17 comes into play, a double-acting spring 22 is provided, said spring being of circular form substantially concavo-convex in transverse section, the edge of said spring being anchored between the ring 13 and the adjacent submarine torpedo, so that the firing pin 7 .weight 16 and the pin 7 rearwardly, the tension of spring 22'is overcome so that it suddenly bows in the opposite direction. Since the movement of spring 22 is extremely sudden after the bowed portion thereof has been forced into the plane of the edge of the ring, it will be obvious that the speed of the pin 7 will be so accelerated as to increase the ower of said pin to insure proper firin of the cap 9.

In use, the device is suitably installed upon a projectile, an aerial torpedo or a extends longitudinally of the direction of travel and the percussion 9 is located in rear of said pin. With the parts so arranged, spring 22 normally holds the firing pin 7 against possible contact with the cap 9 and since the dogs 18 then engage the shallow recess 20 considerable movement of the weight 16 against the tension of spring 17 will be permitted without moving pin 7, it being necessary that the carrying body he suddenly brought to a stand still in order that the weight shall move forwardly with suflicient force to compress the spring 17 to the position of Fig. 3 and simultaneously engage dogs 18 with the recess 21. It is thus insured that ordinary handling will not endanger the lives of those in the vicinity.

From the foregoing, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be obvious that although my invention is of extremely simple nature, it will be highly efficient and sensitive when its use is required, yet proof against premature firing by rough handling. Since probably the best results are obtained from the several specific details shown and described, these details are preferably employed, but I wish it understood that within the scope of the invention as claimed, numerous minor changes may well be made. For instance, although weight 16 is shown as provided with a filler 16' of heavy material, such filler might well be eliminated in somecases.

I claim:

1. In combination, a firing pin adapted to be disposed longitudinally of a charge laden body, a charge firing cap spaced from the rear end of said pin, an operating weight for said pin slidable relatively thereto when the travel of the carrying body is checked, a spring tensioned by such forward sliding of said weight for returning the latter rearwardly, and a clutch for connecting said weight and said pin upon the rearward return of the former, whereby said pin will be moved rearwardly to fire said cap.

2. A structure as specified in claim 1, said clutch consisting of a dog on said weight and a shoulder on said pin with which said dog engages when said weight has moved forwardly.

3. A structure as specified in claim 1, said clutch consisting of a spring arm on said weight, and a shoulder on said pin with which said spring arm engages when said weight has moved forwardly, said pin having a shallow recess in which said spring arm normally rests.

ft. In combination, a charge firing cap, a pin for firing said cap, means for movin said pin toward said cap, and 'a double actingspring for normally holding said pin agalnst movement and .for'accelerating the speed of'said: pin when'said pin moving means comes into play.

5, A structure as specified in claim 4, said spring being of circular form substantially con cavo-convex in section, the center of said spring engaging said pin and the edge of said spring being anchored.

6. In combination, a firing pin adapted to be disposed longitudinally of a charge laden body, a charge firing cap spaced from the rear end of said in, an operating weight for said pin adapte to move forwardly by momentum when said charge laden body is checked in its forward travel, a sprin tensioned by said forward movement 0 said weight for returning the latter rearwardly to force said pin against said cap, and a double-acting spring for normally holding the pin against movement and for accelerating the speed of said pin as it moves rearwardly.

. 7. In combination a firing pin adapted to be disposed longltudinally of a charge laden body, a char e firing cap spaced from the rear end of sai pin, an operating weight for said pin adapted to move forwardl by momentum when said charge laden bo y is checked in its forward travel, a sprin tensioned'by said forward movement 0 said we1gnt for returning the latter rearwardly to force said pin against said cap, and a doubleacting spring for normally holding the pin against movement and for accelerating the speed of said pin as it moves rearwardly, said spring being of circular form substantially concavo convex in cross section, the center of said spring engaging said pin and the edge thereof being anchored.

8. In combination, a cylindrical casing .adapted to be disposed longitudinally of a 10 ward movement of said weight under the tension of said spring will force said firing pin rearwardly against said percussion cap. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN N. SWANSON.

Witnesses:

W. W. KIRKPATRICK, L. W. CRAWFORD. 

